On Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a statement from the president that said Brennan “has a history that calls into question his objectivity and credibility.”

“The president has a constitutional responsibility to protect classified information and who has access to it, and that’s what he’s doing is fulfilling that responsibility in this action,” Sanders said.

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“I call it the rigged witch hunt, [it] is a sham,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal. “And these people led it. So I think it’s something that had to be done.”

This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent. https://t.co/TNzOxhP9ux

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also responded, calling it an “abuse of power”:

Revoking the security clearance of an honorable patriot is a stunning abuse of power & a pathetic attempt to silence critics. This is yet another disturbing attempt by @realdonaldtrump to distract & divert attention from his Admin’s #cultureofcorruption, cronyism & incompetence.

.@RepPeteKing: “The only purpose of maintaining a security clearance is if a president or the administration may want to consider you for consultation during a crisis. No one would consult John Brennan in a crisis.” pic.twitter.com/WfArCSFdQA